Keller Administration Announces Additions to City Leadership

January 20, 2022

The City has added key hires and filled critical roles in support of city initiatives and departments. New hires include Eric Griego, Director of Outreach and Advocacy for the Mayor’s Office; Bobby Sisneros, Deputy Director for the Transit Department; and Valerie Hermanson, Vision Zero Coordinator.

“Each of these hires fills a need in key role for our city and will help us achieve shared goals in this next chapter of our city’s journey,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “These leaders begin their work to strengthen engagement and collaboration with community groups, create a transit system that works for our city, and develop an improved built environment that prioritizes safety for all road users. Each of these folks have strong ties and commitment to Albuquerque, whether they’re brand new to City government or have years of service already under their belts.”

“I look forward to this opportunity to help drive community engagement and strengthen collaboration with groups that are working on our city’s pressing issues,” said Eric Griego, Director of Outreach and Advocacy. “Working together, we can advance initiatives that work for Albuquerque and create meaningful change in our communities.”

“I am grateful for this new role and the opportunity to further my work with the City and the team at ABQ Ride as we move the department forward,” said Bobby Sisneros, Deputy Director, Transit Department.

“I'm looking forward to the opportunity to reinforce the City's active transportation and Vision Zero efforts, along with collaborating on community-driven projects that make our streets safer and improve outcomes related to equity, health, and sustainability,” said Valerie Hermanson, Vision Zero Coordinator.

Eric Griego Montoya, PhD, Director of Outreach and Advocacy

For the past three decades Eric has worked as a researcher, analyst and policy maker on applied public policy issues ranging from economic development to early childhood education at the local, state, national and international level.  For the first ten years of his career, he worked on international economic and labor issues at three federal agencies and on Capitol Hill.

He returned home to New Mexico in 1999 and was elected to the Albuquerque City Council in 2001, where he co-sponsored and helped pass and implement an increase in the minimum wage, one of the nation’s first local public financing systems for elections and the city’s most progressive planning document in its history. In 2005 he was appointed Assistant Cabinet Secretary for Economic Development under Governor Richardson, where he led state efforts on community and local economic development.

In 2008 he was elected to the NM State Senate where he championed progressive tax reform, passed legislation promoting green jobs and led legislative action on several issues affecting the state’s working children and families.  For four years, before leaving to run for Congress in 2012, he also ran the largest and most active anti-poverty advocacy, research and policy organization, New Mexico Voices for Children. 

From 2014-2020 he was a research fellow at the Center for Social Policy (formerly the Center for Health Policy) at the University of New Mexico, where his teaching and research focused on sustainable economic development, social capital and public policy.  From 2017-2021 he was also State Director of the New Mexico Working Families Party, a state affiliate of the national WFP.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in government and journalism from New Mexico State University, a master’s in public management from the University of Maryland, and a master’s and doctorate in political science from the University of New Mexico.

He was raised and currently lives in the Barelas neighborhood with his wife Kimberly, son Lucas and two rescue dogs Tater and Daisy.  

Bobby Sisneros, Deputy Director, Transit Department

Bobby began his career with the City of Albuquerque 14 years ago as a temporary employee at the Transit Department. Bobby has served the public as a graphic artist and marketing specialist at ABQ Ride, a Marketing Manager at Solid Waste, and a Planning Manager at the Department of Family and Community Services while advancing his career with the City.

During his time with the City, Bobby has designed bus stop signs, established Keep Albuquerque Beautiful as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, managed media relations for the 2019 National Senior Games, and most recently operated multiple non-congregate shelters for the unhoused population in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

When identifying creative solutions to move departments forward, Bobby capitalizes on his mastery of marketing, logistics, management, and his ability to incorporate partnerships with community organizations, the State of New Mexico and Bernalillo County.

Bobby has been with his wife for nearly 25 years and together they have raised three amazing children and are proud grandparents of two adorable little girls.

Valerie Hermanson, Vision Zero Coordinator

Valerie Hermanson, AICP, begins her role as a Public Works Strategic Program Manager for the City of Albuquerque, leading the City's Vision Zero program to combat pedestrian deaths and reimagine transit systems to make our roads safer for all users.

Born and raised in New Mexico, Valerie has worked in multiple cities including Albuquerque, Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, CA. She brings 10+ years of experience with an extensive background and skillset in transportation planning and policy and active transportation plans/programs. She is passionate about shaping transportation by creating equitable, sustainable, resilient, and human-oriented streets and places by implementing plans, policies, and programs that make mobility options safe, convenient, and affordable for everyone.

Valerie holds a Master's degree in Community and Regional Planning and Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of New Mexico.